APRA Best Country Music Song is an award that has been honuoring Aotearoa’s finest country songwriters for 22 years. This prestigious accolade recognises outstanding songwriting, musicianship, and storytelling within New Zealand’s vibrant country music scene. As it celebrates over two decades of excellence, the award continues to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent shaping the genre.

 

Past winners include some of the country’s most celebrated artists, such as Holly Arrowsmith, Tami Neilson, Delaney Davidson, Jenny Mitchell, Kaylee Bell, Reb Fountain, and Mel Parsons. If you’re a songwriter with a passion for country music, this is your chance to have your work recognized on a national stage.

 

If your song or video was broadcast to the public for the first time between 1 Jan 2024 – 31 Dec 2024, you could be eligible to enter. Entries for 2025 are now closed.

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Annual Award Timeline:

• Early Feb: Entries open
• Early March: Entries close
• Early May: Finalists announced
• Late May: Award announced​​​​